The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-05-24

ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH IN HONOLULU

The wet season is in all probability at
an end, and we shall have a spell of dry
and hot weather for considerable time.
Disease is almost certain to develop
under these conditions. The soil has
been soaked with moisture almost con-
tinuously since the beginning of last
November, and if the nostrils have been
offended by unwholesome exhalations
during that period, what must happen
when free vent is given to foul gasses by
rents and cracks in the ground caused
by rapid drying under continuous heat?
Manifestly disease must be engendered,
and the first and surest victims are
almost certain to be the native people.
It cannot be denied that a foul con-
dition of streets generates disease. Dur
ing the late rains the mud on the streets
of Honolulu stank with rottenness; now
that it has been dried by. sun and
wind it will be blown about in the form
of dust, carrying with it disease germs.
A more scandalous, we had almost said
criminal, disregard of human life and
comfort could not well be imagined
under any condition of government than
has been witnessed in Honolulu for
months past. The mortuary report
issued by the Government for the month
of April last (as for previous months)
shows an undue proportion of infant
deaths, as well as of general mortality
among the native people. And we are
told that In rural districts all over the
Islands native Hawaiians are fast dis
appearing, although the medical pro-
vision for their care and treatment has
been increased rather than diminished
There must be something wrong some
where when such opposite conditions
ment. Either the natives do not avail
themselves of skilled medical advice, or
that branch of expenditure is altogether
too heavy for actual requirements. We
do not know which it is, but one or
other position is true.
Reverting to the condition of Homo
lulu we have no hesitation in saying
that much of the recorded mortality is
due to lack of sanitation. 1t would not
be too much to say that fully twenty-five
per cent of the deaths are from prevent
BILE causes, that is, from diseases begotten
of the filthy and foul surroundings of the
people. Cesspools, garbage of all kinds,
putrid mud and stagnant water, disease
loaded dust, combined with damp and
filthy houses, are to be credited with at
least one-fourth of the deaths on an
average, and should an epidemic break
out this summer it will find all conditions
favorable for it's development New
York is a moderately well kept city, and
its death rate is considerably below that
of Honolulu, despite its trying extremes
of climate. Under the present admins
tration of New York City considerable
improvement will doubtless take place,
as Mayor Hewitt is doing his duty on all
sides fearlessly. He is also backed in this |
good work by the women, as the follow
ing extract from New York paper will
show;
The organization known as the Ladies !
Health Protective Association Yesterday |
presented to Mayor Hewitt Il petition that |
he continue his efforts to secure better |
street cleaning system, and suggesting |
various methods by which this work can |
be accom- plished.
The petition states that the prevalence of |
disease Is largely due to the filthy condition !
of the streets and that catarrh results in a /
measure from the wholesale accumulation |
of dust in the public thoroughfares. Com |
plant IS made against the ash-barrel nui- |
sance, which the petitioners say are over |
turned by sportive boys and % grinning |
ragpickers." The petition recommends |
that the street cleaning be divided into dis |
tric-s, each of which shall be in charge of |
a foreman or superintendent; that Che |
thoroughfares be swept five times week
occasion may require. The petition. in |
conclusion, asks that women be appointed |
as street inspectors.
Last March there was an influenza |
epidemic in Honolulu, which occasion |
ally developed into bronchitis or pneu- |
monia, and no doubt was induced by
impure surface conditions. Fortunately /
the epidemic was not fatal, although it
was extremely depressing. Diarrhoea
and Group have also been common, and
last month five deaths from fever were
recorded, one being typhoid. That
zymoeic diseases are prevalent cannot
be doubted. The seven zymotic dis |